8 Special Education Assessments

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Find out about what tests are used to diagnose or help students with special needs.

Click on an item in the set below to see more info.

1. Developmental Assessments

Description: Norm-referenced scales that assess infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Developmental assessments are used to find strengths and weaknesses in very young children who are thought to be experiencing delays.

Examples: Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning (DIAL-3) and the Denver Developmental Screening Test II.

2. Screening Tests

Description: Quick, easy to administer tests that are used to identify children who may be below the norm in certain areas. The purpose is to quickly assess the potential problem so more in-depth assessments can be administered.

3. Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Tests

Description: Generally given to students who are being considered for special education, IQ tests help determine if the student's learning problems are connected with intellectual abilities or other difficulties such as learning disabilities or emotional disturbance.

4. Academic Achievement Tests

Description: Academic tests evaluate the student's performance in reading, writing, arithmetic, and other school subjects. These tests are usually given to students being considered for special education.

5. Adaptive Behavior Scales

Description: A student diagnosed with intellectual disabilities must show a deficit in adaptive behavior, or basic living skills. Adaptive behavior scales assess skills in daily living, community participation, social abilities, motor abilities, and communication.

8. End-of-Grade Alternate Assessments

Description: All students are tested at the end of each grade to show that they have made progress. Accountability laws, such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), require that each student makes annual yearly progress. Students in special education usually take these tests with accommodations or take an alternate assessment.